this is Salem, a land filled with magic and maladies. It is a place where witches and their elemental familiars gather, a home to legend and
lore that predates time itself. Yet of all the wicked and wonderful stories the past can tell us of, the most magical are the ones yet to happen.
This is Salem - this is the start of your very own journey. Welcome to starfall
Starfall is an animaga witch roleplay set in mostly modern times. Members play as witches in a world plagued by monsters, where the only safe spots are walled cities. Starfall strives to be a character-driven roleplay with expansive lore and a highly interactive plotline. We want to allow members to
create and look back on a magical journey, and mold the site and its plot as their characters grow.
[attr="class","textbod"]There is a certain wild serenity to the diaphanous waltz of a crisp ocean breeze, a sense of natural grace intertwined with the untamed power lying dormant beneath its soft saltwater kisses. Stop, breathe. Listen. The afternoon is lazy wind tangling long fingers in her hair, sunlight painting streaks of luminous warmth against her skin, the distant roar of waves throwing themselves against the shore; it is the cries of seagulls high up in the sky, the smell of salt and brine and sunbaked sand, fine grains tumbling through the cracks of her fingers. For a moment soaked in seawater and sun, all the weight of her responsibilities and cares wash away in the song of the sea.
Aisling does not visit the beach very often, but every time she does, she always wishes she could stay for longer.
Lyze perches on her shoulder with eyes half-closed, still and unmoving as if carved from stone. Quiet contentment thrums along their mental bond - two halves of the same soul, the line between their individual identities blur to a soft-edged gradient, melding and mixing in the glow of their shared tranquility. For this moment, they can simply stop and...
The water was trailing over Avori’s exposed feet as she tread through the sand, shoes nestled in her fingers, gaze trained on the seafoam passing over and under her skin, how her legs sunk beneath her only to be washed back up with the shift of the tide. A serene smile was playing on her lips then as she tipped her chin up to face the sky, her eyes sliding shut, basking in the breeze and the salt in the wind. Anemoi was hovering nearby — excitedly chirping as he would tease the waves, shifting small whirlpools into the water with simple flutters of his vibrant wings, taking joy in making a line of them going as he followed behind his witch. [break] Parting her lips and bringing her head back forward, her crimson gaze fluttered back to life, skin flushed with the beat of the breeze— it was always much colder near the shore, something that seemed to always slip her mind when she went down to bask in the coast. Suddenly, Anemoi’s voice sung into her mind; there’s someone over there and I think they’re in the coven… and they have a bird familiar, Avi, I’m sure of it! We should make friends. [break] Avori let out a small, airy laugh at her familiar’s excitement, but she couldn’t help it— his observations had intrigued her. She broke her eyes from the water and wandered over to see just what the kingfisher was going on about before she caught sight of them… or, well, her best guess; the girl did have an owl perched on her. [break] Are they who you’re talking about, Avori shot back, though her small smile had broadened; she could already feel Anemoi’s confirmation before it came through just by his excitement— sometimes she really wondered who was the child in their relationship, but she figured neither were necessarily more mature than the other; they were simply complimentary. [break] Anemoi hovered on ahead, not even moving his wings but simply using the wind and his air abilities to his advantage as he went. Slow down, you’re like a toddler seeing a new toy, Avori chided, only to be met by what could be best described as an attempt to give an offended huff through a mere mind connection. [break] Anemoi did, however, stop and wait for his witch to catch up to him, flying over her shoulder and resting himself neatly on her white-blond locks; considering his own coloring, the contrast was almost ridiculous, but neither party cared. [break] “Calming, isn’t it,” Avori said brightly in lieu of a greeting as she got within range of the girl in question. “The beach.” [break] She let her eyes wander back to the ocean then, an almost wistful look crossing her face before she turned back to the woman. “This might be a bit awkward of a greeting, but I think— and I could be completely off here, that we’re in the same coven? I figured I should get to know you, and even if I’m wrong, there’s no harm in making a friend, right?” Avori was feeling rather cheery, though her tone was more relaxed than she felt; perhaps it was the sway of the water that cast a relaxed air upon her, influencing her demeanor to be just as tranquil. Besides, she’d hate to scare her off. [break] “I’m Avori, by the way.”
They hear the girl and her familiar approach before either speak - Lyze first, his head swivelling to the side to amplify his hearing, then Aisling, her own sharp senses detecting the beat of wings in the air and the muffled crunch of footsteps in the sand. 'Approaching,' her familiar warns, unnecessary but appreciated nonetheless. He turns a hooded amber-red gaze on the incoming strangers, unblinking in his scrutiny; Aisling, meanwhile, does not yet turn her head, continues staring straight ahead sightlessly in the direction of the sea. 'Female. Young - younger than you; familiar. Kingfisher-bird, male - small. I could take him.'
She sends a pulse of wordless gratitude along their bond, edged with exasperated fondness. 'Not everyone is a threat, familiar mine,' she admonishes gently, though truthfully she neither wants nor expects Lyze to change. The owl huffs silently in mock outrage; amusement touches the curve of Aisling's mouth at this routine argument they have had many, many times with varying degrees of seriousness and intensity.
“Calming, isn’t it,” comes a feminine voice, bright and cheerful. And also familiar, though it is the distant sort of familiarity, the fleeting brush of half-hazed memory that fails to crystallise into a solid thought. Aisling is certain she has met this girl before - but she cannot say where.
"It is," Aisling responds softly, inclining her head towards the general direction of the other in greeting. Lyze shifts on her shoulder to remain balanced, but says nothing. She is prepared to let the quiet between the lie dormant before the roar of the waves, to sit back and to bathe in the warmth of the afternoon sun - her companion, it seems, has different plans.
“This might be a bit awkward of a greeting, but I think— and I could be completely off here, that we’re in the same coven?" Aisling's attention shifts back to the girl, her interest peaked at the possibility that they may be comrades. "I figured I should get to know you, and even if I’m wrong, there’s no harm in making a friend, right?”
'Interesting,' Lyze thinks, and Aisling brushes wordless agreement along their bond. Out aloud, she turns to her companion with a gracious smile and inclines her head in tacit agreement. "You are right," she says, her lips curved gently upwards; she stills as the other introduces herself, the name sparking memory to mind.
"Avori of the Lémieux family?" Aisling's eyebrows raise fractionally, surprise stealing across her expression. Lyze narrows his eyes at the other pair. "My apologies, it has been a while since we were last acquainted. I am Aisling Fei." She smiles a little wider this time, a little less distantly serene and a little more warm. "It is a pleasure to see you again."
Post by avori lémieux on Jul 29, 2017 21:49:39 GMT
❧
He doesn’t seem very friendly, Anemoi huffed, just between them, as he eyed the owl; the kingfisher had settled himself into a comfortable sitting position atop Avori’s head— not an uncommon occurrence, though some would see it as strange. But she seems alright, wouldn’t you say? [break] I mean, yeah, I guess. Don’t know her well enough yet, but she hasn’t done anything bad to us, so. There’s that. [break] Avori shushed Anemoi after their little exchange with a translation of emotion that signalled the conversation was over for the moment, as she didn’t think splitting her attention was proper— impolite, and Avori was raised to be a “darling” child; it would be simply unwise to have a Lémieux walking around tarnishing the family name, after all. [break] Avori simply smiles in response to the woman’s words, looking back over to the sea; sometimes, she really could never distance herself from it. Perhaps it was because the water never expected anything from her, and the moon and stars which could dance on its surface calmed her and held her like a mother’s arms. [break] “I love coming here,” she said simply, raising her hand to her head in order to run her fingers against Anemoi’s colorful plumage, a sign of affection. His feathers were ruffling again, so her fingers smoothed them back into place despite it proving fruitless when the breeze picked up once more. [break] As she lowered her hand pack to rest idly on her hipbone, Avori tore her gaze away, a pleased, almost proud, smile etched across her face. “Well, that’s a relief! I thought you seemed familiar… Anemoi” — she motioned to the bird on her head — “was the one to notice the two of you first. He’s got a keen eye, I guess,” she finished with a good-natured laugh. [break] The reaction to her name by the woman, however, was not lost on Avori and Anemoi; in fact, it sparked a slight bit of trepidation in the witch. Do you think I was horrible to her? Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh— [break] Only one way to find out— besides, Avi, you can apologize for whatever you might have done to her, but I usually recognize those people and while I can’t yet put my wing on it… I don’t think she was the type you were less-than-pleasant towards, her familiar soothed her, tapping his wing against her head. [break] “Oh— yeah, that’s me alright. Avori Lémieux, at your service,” she confirmed with a playful bow of her head, though the surprise overtaking the witch’s face alarmed her a bit, but she dismissed it; she knew her family name wasn’t exactly… obscure, and her existence was known because of it. [break] Her familiar doesn’t look particularly happy about you, Avi. Anemoi chimed in, noting the grand owl’s reaction. Avori didn’t respond. [break] “So we have met, then! Well, that makes this slightly less awkward, then… hopefully, anyway…” she murmured, dipping her head as though she was searching her memories to recall the name… [break] “I am Aisling Fei.” [break] She could feel it— a distant memory, a connection even, but something she couldn’t yet put her finger on; she could already hear the gears grinding in Anemoi’s head as well, searching for something — anything — to latch on to. [break] “It really has, then; I knew I remembered you, but I couldn’t put much of a finger on it, really. I’m happy we got to meet again, then! How have things been for you lately?”
[attr="class","shockwave-lyrics"]laugh as she attempts to give you what you cannot give herself
[attr="id","shockwave-textbox"]
“I love coming here,” the other girl says, and she hears the soft rustle of feathers against feathers following the words. Aisling inclines her head in agreement, closing her sightless eyes for a moment while she tilts her head back and lets the warmth of the sun play across her face, lets the calming rhythm of the ocean wash over her senses. "It is lovely," she agrees. Salt on her lips and the distant cry of gulls far up overhead, the overwhelming bustle of the city fading against the song of the vast fathomless sea - there is something undeniably beautiful about the seaside.[break][break]
The other witch speaks; there is relief in her voice first, then trepidation - at what, Aisling wonders, opening her eyes once more. ( To darkness still, and it is familiar darkness, but even after all these years, she still cannot help but feel the frisson of bitter disappointment creep down her spine. ) 'Anemoi is the bird's name.' Lyze interrupts her morose thoughts, no doubt having sensed the emotion seep into their mental landscape - and also to drag her thoughts back to the present, where they rightfully belong. She sends him a pulse of silent gratitude.[break][break]
Ah. So she was correct about the other girl's identity. It has certainly been a long time since their last interaction, but she can vaguely remember excitement over sharing an affinity. Aisling smiles at her fellow heiress, careful to aim it in the right direction. "Quite well, thank you," she responds with her customary politeness, but with more warmth than she would address a stranger with. "The intricacies of family business are as demanding as usual, but adjusting to the additional duties of a Knight have been quite interesting."[break][break]
"And you?" she asks. Lyze shifts minutely, and finally decides to let his glare relax to his normal steady stare. "How have you been?"
